CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in this capital city of Pampanga are on a downward trend, with 16 out of 35 barangays currently free of new infections.

Dr. Carlos Mercado, officer-in-charge of the City Health Office, said on Thursday there were only five to six new cases a day reported here since the start of this month.

On Nov. 17, five new cases were reported for total active cases of 55.

Mercado said the villages that were recorded to have zero active cases are Baliti, Del Pilar, Del Rosario, Dela Paz Norte, Lourdes, Magliman, Maimpis, Pandaras, Panipuan, Pulung Bulu, Quebiawan, San Felipe, San Isidro, San Juan, Sta. Teresita, and Sto. Rosario.

He attributed the decline in COVID-19 cases to the efficient vaccination rollout of the city government.

“Malaking tulong talaga yung vaccination program natin para bumaba yung kaso sa San Fernando. People get immunity from vaccines and vaccines really work. Kaya sana yung mga hindi pa nagpabakuna, magpabakuna na para makapag contribute sila doon sa herd immunity na inaasam natin (Our vaccination program is a big help for the decline of Covid-19 cases in San Fernando.

People get immunity from vaccines and vaccines really work. Hopefully, those unvaccinated will get inoculated so that they can contribute to our goal of herd immunity),” Mercado said in a social media post.

As of Nov. 12, the City Health Office has fully vaccinated 142,299 individuals, which is 61.7 percent of the total eligible population, while 78.97 percent or 191,182 Fernandinos received the first dose.

The City Health Office targets to reach 100 percent vaccination of the first dose before the year ends.

“Nagpapasalamat din kami sa mga barangay natin na tumutulong sa atin. Napakahalaga ng role nila lalo na ngayon na maluwag na talaga yung restrictions. And we hope na yung ibang barangay din ay ma-achieve rin yung zero active case,” Mercado said.

But while the number of COVID-19 cases in the city has dropped, Mercado still urged the people to follow the minimum public health standards to prevent infection, especially among unvaccinated children.

“Sa ngayon patuloy pa rin tayong nakamonitor kasi nga nag-ease ng restrictions ang national so baka by next week or first week of December, maramdaman natin yung epekto. Kapag dumoble yung ating kaso maaaring yun na yung epekto ng pagluwag ng restrictions. Pero sana hindi na tayo umabot doon at magkaroon pa ulit ng surge,” he added.

Mercado also advised parents to avoid bringing their young children to crowded places, especially enclosed spaces like malls.

“Sa mga parks naman o open areas, huwag nila hahayaang magtanggal ng mask yung mga anak nila. Isipin din sana nila na hindi pa vaccinated itong mga batang ito at maaari pa ring mahawa ng Covid sa kanilang paglabas-labas,” he added.

Since the pandemic started last year, the city government has recorded 11,263 Covid-19 cases, with 10,884 recoveries and 324 deaths. Philippine News Agency